The direct final rule published on December 3, 2014 at 79 FR 71634 is withdrawn, effective January 15, 2015.

14 CFR Parts 61 and 141

Summary

The FAA is withdrawing a direct final rule regarding aviation training devices published December 3, 2014. That rule would have relieved burdens on pilots seeking to obtain aeronautical experience for an instrument rating by increasing the allowed use of aviation training devices. The FAA received adverse comments to the direct final rule and, thus, is withdrawing the direct final rule.

Effective January 20, 2015. Send comments on or before January 2, 2015. If the FAA receives an adverse comment or notice of intent to file an adverse comment, the FAA will advise the public by publishing a document in the Federal Register before the effective date of the final rule, which may withdraw this direct final rule in whole or in part.

14 CFR Parts 61 and 141

Summary

This rulemaking relieves burdens on pilots seeking to obtain aeronautical experience, training, and certification by increasing the allowed use of aviation training devices. These training devices have proven to be an effective, safe, and affordable means of obtaining pilot experience. These actions are necessary to bring the regulations in line with current needs and activities of the general aviation training community and pilots.

Effective November 13, 2014. If implementation by the International Civil Aviation Organization of Amendment 172 to Annex 1 is delayed, the FAA will publish notification of the date changes.

14 CFR Parts 61 and 121

Summary

This document notifies the public of the Federal Aviation Administration's policy regarding enforcement of the pilot pairing requirement in the “Part 121 Pilot Age Limit” final rule. Currently, while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards allow a person between the age of 60 and 65 to serve as pilot in command (PIC) of an airplane with two or more pilots, in international commercial air transport operations, the PIC must be paired with a pilot younger than 60 years of age. Parts 61 and 121 of title 14, of the Code of Federal Regulations contain similar limitations. However, a recent amendment to the ICAO standards would remove this pilot pairing requirement. Instead, all pilots serving on airplanes in international commercial air transport operations with more than one pilot may serve beyond 60 years of age (until age 65) without being paired with a pilot under 60 years of age. This ICAO amendment triggers the sunset of the statutory authority that provides the basis for the crew pairing limitations in title 14.

2014-01-02; vol. 79 # 1 - Thursday, January 2, 2014

79 FR 20 - Notice of Policy Change for the Use of FAA Approved Training Devices

The FAA is proposing to amend its regulations to adopt specific rules to allow the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems in the National Airspace System. These changes would address the operation of unmanned aircraft systems, certification of their operators, registration, and display of registration markings. The proposed rule would also find that airworthiness certification is not required for small unmanned aircraft system operations that would be subject to this proposed rule. Lastly, the proposed rule would prohibit model aircraft from endangering the safety of the National Airspace System.

The direct final rule published on December 3, 2014 at 79 FR 71634 is withdrawn, effective January 15, 2015.

14 CFR Parts 61 and 141

Summary

The FAA is withdrawing a direct final rule regarding aviation training devices published December 3, 2014. That rule would have relieved burdens on pilots seeking to obtain aeronautical experience for an instrument rating by increasing the allowed use of aviation training devices. The FAA received adverse comments to the direct final rule and, thus, is withdrawing the direct final rule.

Effective January 20, 2015. Send comments on or before January 2, 2015. If the FAA receives an adverse comment or notice of intent to file an adverse comment, the FAA will advise the public by publishing a document in the Federal Register before the effective date of the final rule, which may withdraw this direct final rule in whole or in part.

14 CFR Parts 61 and 141

Summary

This rulemaking relieves burdens on pilots seeking to obtain aeronautical experience, training, and certification by increasing the allowed use of aviation training devices. These training devices have proven to be an effective, safe, and affordable means of obtaining pilot experience. These actions are necessary to bring the regulations in line with current needs and activities of the general aviation training community and pilots.

Effective November 13, 2014. If implementation by the International Civil Aviation Organization of Amendment 172 to Annex 1 is delayed, the FAA will publish notification of the date changes.

14 CFR Parts 61 and 121

Summary

This document notifies the public of the Federal Aviation Administration's policy regarding enforcement of the pilot pairing requirement in the “Part 121 Pilot Age Limit” final rule. Currently, while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards allow a person between the age of 60 and 65 to serve as pilot in command (PIC) of an airplane with two or more pilots, in international commercial air transport operations, the PIC must be paired with a pilot younger than 60 years of age. Parts 61 and 121 of title 14, of the Code of Federal Regulations contain similar limitations. However, a recent amendment to the ICAO standards would remove this pilot pairing requirement. Instead, all pilots serving on airplanes in international commercial air transport operations with more than one pilot may serve beyond 60 years of age (until age 65) without being paired with a pilot under 60 years of age. This ICAO amendment triggers the sunset of the statutory authority that provides the basis for the crew pairing limitations in title 14.

2014-01-02; vol. 79 # 1 - Thursday, January 2, 2014

79 FR 20 - Notice of Policy Change for the Use of FAA Approved Training Devices